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$1,300,000 net worth (early 40s)
“Precision” - A single man in his early 40s, with no kids and a permanent renter, is stepping away from work with a $1.3M net worth (91st percentile for his age group), an 80/20 stock-bond allocation, and a meticulous plan to live on $30K/year in a mid-cost-of-living suburb (2.3% withdrawal rate). He tracks every expense to the dollar, accepts his own low-cost, low-material needs, and is candid about the “luck” of good health and steady employment. Healthcare and rent remain his only major wildcards, but a low withdrawal rate and full flexibility to move offer peace of mind. He expects no Social Security windfall and is game for a future that may require adapting, but is content with trading higher spending for the freedom and joy of time.
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“My spending could double and my withdraw rate would still be ‘decent’ which is reasonable enough imo... Got here with a healthy mix of frugality and luck. Luck in the sense that the market has been on a 16-year bull run, that I had no major debt, that I had consistent employment when I wanted it, that I’ve never faced personal or systemic discrimination...”
TAKE-AWAY:
Careful planning and “enough” can trump higher income or spending especially if you’re humble about luck and flexible with the future. The true wealth in FIRE is not lavishness, but the autonomy to choose, adapt, and value time over things.
More Net Worth Stories:
https://tenwilsons.substack.com/

